Term equality standard Definition: One of three basic income distribution standards (the other two are contributive standard and needs standard). The equality standard distributes income equally to every person in society. Everyone--every man, woman, and child--would, in other words, receive exactly the same, per capita income--no more, no less. If, for example, total income earned by 270 million people in the United States is $7 trillion, then every person would receive $25,925.9 each--no more, no less.